Bridging Policy, Governance, and Practice in Dam Infrastructure Management: Lessons from the Gurara Water Transfer Project
Abstract
Effective water governance is fundamental to sustainable infrastructure management and the equitable distribution of water resources in developing economies. Nigeria’s dam infrastructure, despite substantial public investment, continues to underperform due to weak institutional coordination and fragmented policy implementation. This study investigates the governance dynamics underpinning Nigeria’s Gurara Water Transfer Project (GWTP), focusing on institutional coordination, policy implementation, and stakeholder participation. The aim is to identify governance challenges affecting the project’s performance and to explore how these issues can be addressed to improve the sustainability of dam infrastructure in Nigeria. A qualitative case study design was employed, combining document analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved in the GWTP. Findings reveal significant governance weaknesses, including fragmented institutional arrangements, inadequate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, and limited community participation. These challenges have led to inefficiencies in dam operations and hindered the achievement of the project’s intended benefits. The study concludes that the sustainability of dam infrastructure in Nigeria relies more on coherent governance systems than on technical design. Recommendations include the establishment of a unified regulatory framework, the integration of comprehensive M&E systems, and the formalization of stakeholder engagement processes to ensure social accountability and effective project management.
Keywords
Water governance; Institutional Coordination; Gurara Water Transfer Project; Dam Infrastructure Management; Policy; Practice
Citations
IRE Journals:
Stella Nneka Arachie, Prof. Ukertor Gabriel Moti "Bridging Policy, Governance, and Practice in Dam Infrastructure Management: Lessons from the Gurara Water Transfer Project" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 7 2026 Page 2369-2380 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I7-1713861
IEEE:
Stella Nneka Arachie, Prof. Ukertor Gabriel Moti
"Bridging Policy, Governance, and Practice in Dam Infrastructure Management: Lessons from the Gurara Water Transfer Project" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(7) https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I7-1713861
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